My appetite has shrunk tremendously ever since CNY. Or even before.

I sometimes eat just for the sake of eating. This is quite bad huh…

 

I can somewhat understand why my cancer patients always leave their food untouched, no matter how appetizing they look.

Some chemo drugs produce a metallic taste in your mouth, and nothing tastes good. Some make you nauseous even with the little that you eat.

Sometimes they are so depressed, food is the last thing on their mind and others just want to rest.

 

However, food is especially crucial to boost recovery, so this is a big concern for us. 

What then can nurses do to encourage them to eat?

I’m sure every nurse has their own method somehow. Maybe.

From the littlest experience I have, I find being with them while they eat will actually subconsciously make them eat more. It is best if we can sit beside them and talk to them while they eat.

That is just a super ideal method which unfortunately is kinda unrealistic in view of the amount of (paper) work we have to do.

It boils down to this question

What is the essence of nursing?

Most nurses would say “To care.” But take a look, how much have we deviated from that? That nursing has become a technical and mechanical job.

I think the healthcare here is not holistic enough. We may have excellence in terms of physical care and cure, what about the other components which make up the totality of a person’s health - their psychological, emotional and spiritual needs?

I read from an article which says that the spiritual need is most crucial for a terminally-ill patient.

Which makes sense.

“I know I am dying, I don’t need more pricks and tests. I need some assurance as to where I will be going after this.”

“The doctor told me there’s no cure for my disease. Can you just pray for me?”

(Some thoughts I conjured up, which may be possible scenarios.)

 

So… The other 3 neglected components are my main concerns regarding the healthcare system in Singapore. Physical health wise, I think we are good.

That’s why I hope to be able to bring music into the hospitals to hopefully make it more ‘whole’.

A place without music feels incomplete and empty! :) The atmosphere in hospitals can definitely afford to liven up by a notch.

 

 

I am darn good in digressing. From appetite to music hahaha. Everything can be linked to music! =P It’s on my mind all the time, every day.